The Sun. — London, England, 1818-09-24 00:00:00

iItDER A A CANA. 111.1 TO THE'EOWERS ASSEMBLING IN CONGRESS AT AIX LA-CHAPELLE ILLUSTRIOUS SOVEREIGNS,-111 mv two former Letters I have shewn the total inefficacy of the Treaties and the Laws hitherto made for the sup pression of the Slave Trade. I have endeavoured. also to skew how deep a wound tire religion and mot als of Europe will re `ceive, and how gross the provocation will he to Almighty God, it, after tire solemn recognitions of the guilty and inhuman nature of the traffic 'contained in the vario,is Treaties between Great Britain and other Powers, and in the Declaration of Vienna, that reproach of Christendom should not now be wiped away. This argument, if it appears to your pions minds not to be ill-founded, will, I trust, be decisive. 1-1 um a oily alone would doubtless induce you to give to unfortunate Africa some share of your de liberations in Congress, and to attempt something for her effectual relief. A sense of what is due to the character and feelings of an enlightened age would strengthen that liberal disposition. Con— sideration. of a less elevated kind might also plead for a system u hich woold open to European enter prize inexhaustible sources of commercial advan tage in that neglected quarter of the globe, and take acvay at the same time serious occasions of dispute among the Mrritime Powers: for that the Slave Trade, while prosecuted by some nations and pro bibit ed by others, may lead to dangerous disputes and collisious, no man of reflection can d o ubt. Da, standing on the high and sacred ground on which the advocate of the poor Africans is now placed, not only by the claims ot their friends, but by the admissions of their enemies, and by the voice of assembled Europe, I will not descend front it, by reasoning from lower principles than those of moral and rvligious obligation. Those principles, sacred as they are, acquire new force tram the awful events of the age. Such at least must be the effect with all who believe ia a superintending Providence, and are therefore prepared to recognise in the fates of men and of nations the righteous government of God ; for never surely were the footsteps of an avenging Deity more visible than in the calamities which %%'e have lived to witness. The singular character and causes, as well as the magnitude of those evils, have powerfully dis posed all pious minds to regard them as visita tions from Heaven. In the plagues producer) the French Revolution, it pleased the Almighty to " do a new thing upon the earth," and to asto nish as well as to chastise. In the history of our age, his hand has been seen, as in the vision of Ezekiel, holding forth to Europe a book " writ ten within and without, and there was written therein latnentation, and mourning, and woe."— When millions have prematurely perished by re volutionary crimes and miseries, and by wars of unexampled horror, without any compensation that has yet appeared, or that the present genera tion can hope to reap, who can doubt that the scourge of the Almighty has been lifted up against its, and that sin has been the cause ? By your Imperial and Royal Majesties, at least, that awful view will be readily admitted ; for you have all, 1 believe, in repeated soletun acts of na tional humiliation, acknowledged the chastising Band of God in the calamities you have susrainod, as well as his mercy in your deliverance. But what, pious Sovereigns, •it I should go further, and point Out to you a specific and adoptive provoca tion of the Divine vengeance ; a provocation given, not by France alone, but by most of the suffering nations ; not by the people only, but by their Governments ; and this at a time, and under circumstances, which nra►de the calamities of the age, if considered as chastisements of that crime, peculiarly appropriate and just ? What if I could convince you that rile hideous system which 1 would now persoade you to suppress, was one of the chief causes of all those unprecedented evils ? This, with your pat lent attention, 1 despair not of being able to accomplish. Absolute demonstration in such cases cannot be expected. We can he certain as to the particular cause of any Providential dispensation, only when it has been miraculously revealed. But we are nevertheless permitted, nay, we are d =landed to search by the light of reason and conscience for the causes of the Divine displeasure. " Hear ye the rod, and who bath appointed it." In the day of adversity consider. " Why discern ye not the signs of the times ?"—" When the judgments of God are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn rightermsneits," " All men shall tear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing." Indeed, those manifestations of the Divine Government on par ticular occasions, which are usually called " spe cial or particular Providences," would lose much of their proper effect, it they were not to be con templated as such ; especially when they tend to the correction of the offenders themselves, or the admonition of others. While we reason on such subjects from known fact s , o n scripturd views of the Divine attributes, mud without any violation of charity, we may err, indeed, in our conclusions, but the mistake can not be dangerous. 1 scruple not therefore to maintain, as an opinion, supported by all the evidence which the subject can in its nature af ford, that the Slave Trade was the grand iniquity of France and of England, of Spain, of Portugal, ttad of Holland, by which they drew down upon themselves the vengeance of H eaven. The opinion is not new. It has been held by many men distinguished both for their piety and their wisdom ; and has long since been maintained before the British Public lby arguments which were admitted to have great plausibility, even by those whom they failed to convince; and which have gained much additional force front subse quent events. To these former arguments I will next humbly invite your most serious attention ; and that they may have the fairer effect, I will extract them (abridging only some parts which relate exclusively to the peculiar case of England) front the publication referred to, a Ork DOW out of print, in th e same wor d s i n w hi c h they were then given to the public. I will afterwards briefly euquirc bow far the views thus - neatlyinteNe years ago, have been since fakified or confirmed. The work Was a small tract, detached from a larger pamphlet by the same pen, published on the 26th day of 3anitary, 1897, and was circit . later!, tinder the title of " New Reasons for abo lishing the Slave Trade," among the members of both Houses of Parliament...v.lls practical object was to persuade the Legislature to appease the anger of Heaven and evert its further vengeance, in tte then very perilous state of the country, by adopting that decisiveaneasure of moral and reli- Onus reformation which happily took place on the 25th day of the following March, when the Abolition Bill passed into a law. The object of the argument, therefore, was attained.— England was delivered from the guilt of the Slave Trade ; nor were the author's sanguine hopes of a happy issue disappointed. The clangers of the country were soon dispersed, and hardly had the last British slave ships crossed the ocean, when that cheering light sprang tip in the Peninsula which irradiated our national horizon, opened to tis new paths of glory, and led us On in a victo rious career to the walls of Paris, and the triumphant field of Waterloo. But still the warn ings given twelve veers ago to Eugland, and the arguments then used with her, are material to our ptesent purpose. They point out the common provecation, from which other nations are now called upon to desist ; and what was then a great aggravation peculiar to England, the sinning against light and knowledge, and agaiost con vie. lion publicly avowed, is now a guilt - contracted by all the nations that yet persist in the trade. After exhibitiog in an '3 1 a lining view the dan gers to which Great Britain was then exposed trom the disasters of the war, and the overwhelm ing power of France, and recommending some measures of precaution against them, the author insisted strongly on the immediate duty and necessity of the great moral reformation which was soon to be again proposed in Parliament avowing his firm belief, that it was more essential to the salvation of the country than all other means of defence. He anti-1 cipated the incredulity and contempt with which such a proposition might be received by many of his readers ; but implored them to recollect " that many of the most important relations between human events and human conduct have been hid den from the wise and prudent till subsequent to I catastrophes, which their timely discovery might have averted." 7 --" If thou badst known, even thou, at lest, in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace ! But now they are hid from thine eyes.' " The author, to diminish this prejudice, noticed I cursorily some of the considerations of human fro- ; licy which might be urged in favour of the Aboli tion; especially a regard to the national character, and to the feelings of the more religious pact of the community, who were disheartened at that ar (limits crisis by apprehensions of the Divine dis. pleasure, and then proceeded as follows : " God forbid, however, that I should dissemble on this sa• creel subject ; and it would be dissimulation to state the I uneasiness of religious minds on account of this great offence, without adding, that I think they are justly alarmed. Yes, I i will dare to avow an opinion, that the public calamities with which we have been so remarkable visited ever since the ini quities of this commerce were laid open to the national con science, and reformation was callously withheld, have been chastisements fur that odious cause. " It cannot be necessary to apologise in a land called Chris- ' tian, for assuming in times like the present, that we have in curred the anger of Heaven ; or for humbly inquiring by what offences that anger is most likely to have been excited. At an era so portentous and alarming, the Atheist indeed, if there be such a character among us, may behold with a stu pid stare the machinery of second causes, without raising his thoughts to that Providence by which it is directed; but all who believe that verily and indeed there is a Gnd who go verns the earth,' and especially the sincere Christian, will recognise, in the afflicting prodigies of the age, the hand of the Most High. "That the good or evil destinies of nations are often the retributory appointments of Divine justice or bounty, no mars who believes in the Scriptures can doubt.—' A fruitful land maketh he barren, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.* A thousand passages in Holy Mit might be cited to the same effect, as well as kuultitudes of examples there recorded of public calamities, which were expressly imposed as. punishments for national sins. " What, indeed, can be more consonant to our views of the Divine Government, whether derived from revealed or natural Religion, than such retributory justice? Kingdoms have no world to come; communities of men will not, as such, stand collectively before the judgment seat of Christ. If, then, it pleases the Almighty in his temporal providence often to punish and reward its a remarkable manner the vices and virtues of individuals, we may reason front analogy (that best natural interpreter of the unseen works of God) for the probability that nations will sowetimes be made to illustrate in the same way his justice, power and mercy. It would be easy to spew, that there is, in fact, a close analogy in what is called the ordinary course of Providence, between the Di vine Government of States, and of private persons. Their virtues equally tend to prosperity and long life; their vices to misery and dissolution. If the decline and fall of nations l may generally he dated from the period of their highest at tainments in arts and luxury, Mat is also the period of their must heinous offences against God : and however opposite the proportion may be to ordinary nations, their most cruel sins against man also. " Iu the particular case in question. I might fortify qsy remarks, it necessary, by the authority of our National Church. We have been repeatedly enjoined on days of -fast ing and humiliation to acknowledge that the calamities and dangers of the times are appointments of Divine Providence, on account of our natiunal sins. The rulers of one Church have not, indeed, attempted to point out to us the particular offences which call for reformation.— Spiritual admonition front the pulpit is, in the present age, of a general kind. Hilt it is riot less the right and duty of individuals to give a, particular and practical ap- ' plicatisits to these pious reproofs. It is obvious, that a dis tinct conception of our sins, whether private or public, must be a necessary prelude to a sincere and efficatious repentance. We have no prophet to declare the causes of the displeasure of fleaven ; but conscience may enable us to discover them ; and if we fairly arply the examples and declarations contain ed iu It Holy Scriptures to the case in question, we shall inquire in the proper way for its solution, anti with a well founded hope of success." [To be continued.) The first General :Meeting of the Trustees and Managers of the Stamford and Rutland Saving Bank was held on Monday last, when the ac counts were examined and found most satisfactory. A statement made up to the Ist September, from which day compound interest accrues to each de positor, declares the receipts in full to amount to 58521., being the deposits of 260 persons since 3lst of March last, when the Bank was first opened.—(Hull Packet, Sept. 22) The town of Tavistock has lately :%hewn a mos laudable example as to parochial system, by having published regularly its monthly expenditure, by which means every parishioner has an opportunity of inspecting it, so as to point out where saving ought to be made. Great numbers of men are employed in re pairing the fortifications of Tournay. The town of Ath will be surrounded by an entirely uew tor• tification, hAsT INVIA Houst.. Yesterday a Quarterly General Court iv ifs tell at the East India !louse. Cer:ain official Papers, relating principally to the Students in the Civil and Military College of the Company; the expence incurred for their maintenance ; their progress in various branches of education, &c. were hid before the Collet. The CHAIRMAN (3. PartiSoll, ) WA'S About to pot the question of adjournment, when Mr. R. JACKSON rose, and reenietted the indul gence of the Court for a fear initiates. [le stated that he had read with great attention the defence of Mr. HudlestoW, which had been laid before the last General Coniq ; but, prepared as he was to speak hilly on the subject, he did not brink it would be proper to enter into it at a time like the present, when a great proportion of the Pro prietors were absent, from town. Butt he con ceived that they owed it to Mr. Hudleston, whem, either in the common course of things, a full Court of Proprietors was assembled, or a Special Court was called for the . particular purpote, to express what lie was perfectly ready to do, after a careful perusal of the papers, namely, that Mr. iludlestou now stood as high in reputation and character as he had evtr done. He pledged himself to bring this interesting subject be fore the Court Its early as possible, and observed that the charge made against Mr. Findlestone could not fairly be attributed to either of the gallant Officers (Sir T. Dal las and Colonel Wilks) whose •names had been connected with it, but originated with the critic in a periodical work. Mr. Jackson next adverted to the war in India. No person, he observed, could view i , s progress without feeling the highest respect and gratitude towards all the parties con cerned in bringing it to an issue. The war was of such a stature, that greater opportunities had been given for individual exerioo than offered themselves on ordinary occasions. Scarcely a Subaltein Officer had been employed who did not wove that it called on he. would be capable of commanding a large body of troops. There was Within the power - ot the General Court one way of marking, their sense of such brilliant services, which he sitould now stare. At a proper 011ie, and when the war found its termination, all the di,patches connected with it Light be published wi:h a copious index, a proper glossary, and a complete map of the countries in which our army bad been triumphant. Such a work would be in finitely grateful to those who had signalized them selves in the war. When they stood forward de mandiug promotion they might open the leaves of that work, and turning to particular passages, exclaim," Thus did I act, at such a time, and in such a place, and from my conduct you can judge whether I deserve the situation I ask for." Mr. Jackson next adverted to the past services of. the Governor-General, arid expressed a ferveut wish that there was no truth in the report which had found its way into the newspapers, of the intend ed recall of this illustrious character. It was time that the Company should profit by experi ence ; and they all must feel how much injury had been clone by the removal of the present Guyer nor-General's predecessor. • Mr. S. DIXON observed, that Gentlemen not having received any notice that any business but that of the ordinary description would be touched on, were quite unprepared for the subject which the Learned Gentleman had introduced. He con ceived that until due notice was given of an in tention to bring them forward, they ought not to have been mentioned. With respect to Mr. Hudleston, he was most ready to do him com plete justice ; but he hoped that Gentleman's case would not be brought forward, except in a full meeting of proprietors. As to the war in India, he trusted when that subject was introduced; that the justice of the contest would be clearly proved. That, he conceived, was a more importaut point than the success of its termination. General MACAULEY said, whenever the case of Mr. Hudleston carne on, he would Fnove that no charge was made, or was intended to be made, by Colonel Wilks, or Sir 'l'. Dallas, against that Gentleman. The CHAIRMAN suggested the propriety of drop ping the conversation relative to the case of Mr. Hudieston, a Learned Gentleman having given notice of his intention to bring the subject specifically before the Court. With respect to that part of the Learned Gentleman's speech, in which a recall of the Governor- General was men tioned, he wished it to be most distinctly under stood, that the rumour was completely without foun dation, and was utterly unknown to the Court of Directors The Court then adjourned sine die. RUMFORD CANAL. Yesterday a respectable Meeting, of the Occu piers of Lands was held at the Court-house, Romford, Essex, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of forming a Naviga ble Canal from the river Thames, by Dagenham and Romford, to Collier-row Midge, and to de vise the means of carrying the same into effect. This project, which is considered of great advan tage to the County of Essex, has received strong patronage, and a numerous body of highly dis tinguished persons have become subscribers. The Chair was taken by Mr. TALBOT. Alter some desultory conversation, Mr. HANCOCK. proposed to adjourn the meeting to a more convenient day, as the business of the market prevented many from attending, who would otherwise have been present. SYFRRY supported the proposal. Mr. HANCOCK then named Finlay, the Ifith of October, us the most convenient day. But be tore the meeting >uljourned, he wished to inform them, that a Geutleman present had a communi cation to make from Earl St. Vincent. Mr. NEWMAN said, the message from the Noble was no secret. His Lordship vas unable to attend the 'nettling, but he had intimated his in tention to give the project his eupport. A Gentleman then handed a letter to the Chair slgned by Earl St. Vincent, and addressed to Joyuder and Co. Bankers. The litter being read, it appeared that the Noble Earl en teitained so laywu - rable stn opiuiuti oit lbe benefit ' ig the iaitbitantt itimford \kotild restive h id, the projected Can a l., ihat he l'equested three 'o, shares might be entered i n th e name of his ni t s Mr. liaNcocrt then addressed the meetiOlt' stated, th a t t h e scheme' o rigi na ted w ith bi ll : 9 01 lie had taken it up on public grounds, a" induced by the favour a bl e rec epti o n it Met tur o l,l severe, being of opinion that Gentlemen 911° 0 0 subscribe to produce a 'survey, as the Most 6 , elusive means of promoting the measure. The Meeting adjoorOeri to the 16th Octobe'l MELANCHOLY CASE. Last week a 'young girl of Most intereSting a tt , ? ; pearance, aged only 17, was brought be for e e ti sitting Magistrates at Bow-street, charged uJ Mother, a respectable tradeswiiman in the St r ! d t. with plundering Tier of property to a large 3 111° " 0 0 The story telat'ed by the nufther, who was are .i• hilly agitAted ditring the recital, was most di git sing. ft was as follows : A boui nine years ago the rather of the Pr' s° O re ' • died, leaving her and three other younger, on to be supported by th e e x er ti ons of the tu, ° '"tiu ; who still con t in ues t o carr y on h er hushana g ' %, e ri siness for the mainten a nc e o f h er c hildren. P f o l attention was paid to the educationand C O , /° ,O l of the childi- e n, especi a lly the prisoner, %'‘° ° i f f ie sotnewhat of a favourite. Of the kindness 0 0 0 tention Of her parent she always seemed olti st e o' Ode, and her conduct w as un if or mly of a° eft plary nattire. In fact, s he seemed never so haPli ti mi when she NNW . evince by any means the lo ve l es . f i gratitude she felt tow a rd s he r m o th e r. A t lotes ago, however, she unhappily became acqa• with a man who repreteuted himself to b: t a is tan R. in the al•thy, upon half-pay. ..... 4 0 0 . quaintance commenced i n one o f the.ll ie ", where he had alt opportunity of shewifig h er , civilities, and upon his accomp a nying be r 11 0 - 0 0 ; her mother was so struck with the stepe ipr , o o... ners anti behaviour of the " charming C"P' - ,, ore i ht t that she gave him a general invitation t house. lie continued hi s vi s it s , was mo s t ' l O ll miffing in his att e ntions to the (lan gb r ;01 6 . upon Many occa s i on s e xp resse d a wish t ° Olt - her his wife. No objection was started ° t sti part of the mother ; and under the impress i°l . ; .ol e his views were of the most honourable „ataff • permitted her daught e r t o accdmpaimy Ode et) the places of public amusement. This CO ° f at length proved as f a t a l t o th e virtue ° (P g daughter as to the happiness of the par eni i ; e filt a . night, after coming from the Haymarket r (' mei' she was prevailed upon to accompany her 41 She remained with . him for three days a" ty ° o l during which period th e wre t c hed muoti l ' i o wandering about in all .directions in sea a 1 her, and caused hand-bills to be eireol °l- , 04 feriug a reward for her discovery and r tion. Time ruined girl at length carri e d 10. 1 , 1 and although received with open arms a ° o of joy by. her parent, her behaviour tr °/ d . P C ; momeut was the reverse of what it 1 ° 0 0r' ; inerly been. She conducted h t. ,ell t ie ote l s j her mother bud the family Avid) th e l g " p a hauteur, and upon being slightly reholce ll ' e pilf,!: abuse them in the vilest manner, using' 1/ 1- ,14 that would almost disgrace the phrlie° 9 o ol t , - Giles's. Within the last ft* week s f l ' e r i, missed several articles of jewellery, ''' e ! t i parel, &c. and at length m a d e th e agq°';;: r sl'' e covery that the perpetrator Was no °LW' it ell daughter, who bad stolen th e p ro perty a u nlo mli e e ed it at different pawuhrokers. She (the discard had not the slightest doubt, from othe r ' ries she had made, that the produce of went to support the wicked paramour 01 m ing rej for she had lately learned that he was a s ll ',o venturer, never having been in the army die She at length detected watchgh intratailat of - conveying away her and seal' 0 0 0 " house, and unable to bear with suc h o p c i • any longer, she, gave her in charge to an 0 , 3 9 ' l O l The Magistrate observed, that th is . pa d i e P • le! r i• must extraordioary, as well as the th o " able case be ever remembered, and aske ,1 we r t a d at 's what she could have to say in a' . charge the enormity of which was abut's' 00.°,(1. parallel. The young delinquent, tv ith i,er lie f " • e ed said, " she Would do ally thiog to as s i s t 3r oss Captain, who was just now a little em b . s araPr o ak' The unfortunate mother, at hearing 0, 1 0 , 1 5 c senseless into the arms of aim officer, anti see m= veyed array in that state. The pris"'l.4ol,o,o, 4 ,„ pos quite unmoved, and was remade" • • olit if orders that she should he kept in s finement. ( S . urveyor of ..,—........_ WiNDOW Tax ES. —A Bat li Paper 5919 'de 1)0° !!rstand, received directions to roak e ;'„ ri chs r V diate survey of houses - and windows► ao" " I -00 ; 1) i - , all windows-constructed with divisi° l/s d , ° , th c ;ll Taxes for this District bas) 001 asso many separate lights. All Wi" (l°- . 5. 0, ' i fore, known under the name of hencef • lir~►ts• henceforth be deemed three 1i ,, 1 " illicw P ° ell 1 Mr. Wilkie, landlord o f "d i e Crowliptre , c ionse, corner of Dufont's-place, 1311791 .1 i: Se ' 11.44-market, was found drowned i" I p al gent's Park, at twelve o'clock o► Stodi4ther I )/ He had - left his house at e ii!, - lit, but wji t e xttg` fill. death was by suicide or by accident is r' a rene.ia , COAL lA.ltli•lcf, ssr.rt:lnt:ll.23' Dice' 6 31 sllips at MAO:I'C. Ships r.olcl. 1 , 14 Newt!Nstle 4 4 ,V I .... a .Suridvrlan d ..... 3... .....• 10 4 At Highgate, Mri I • Jac i i •• ,of a so n- y e t A•1 1 ,-;. J u ila 11 ilir i l' • street, of a soli. ------------------------ Cirq to ~,, , 01 MARK] r.l) • n .0 , 0 10 , ) 1, r I On Tuesday l;ict, at Ayston, the tar! l' i ~ ,e ., ' (1 ",,,., P ir line, second d;ittglitet of (ieul ge 1.1 0 (' , .:,., to I'" I.: 1 Ayston, in the cuuotv of Rutland ', and li' , cli 3r , li , West mu: land. e P s. ' (P l s s . 1 , the we st 1 Same diAy, at St. Margaret's, Nor' vic ;wet c 1 iI )C Pendriolie, of Cherisey, !:,urrey, tk ol ',:f u 4 tioe rils o ter of the late Captain James Sui,:tili In February las -- t, RI Cali: 1) 1 1 f, ;Ift -...-. •er 34' ll ' i ll e1°Ifile1315;:11":rjir: days, tq;ed 17, Ji,bez 11..rlibiuwer, O ' l Y s') MOO J. C. Hornbiow,:r, bis a gef oi ri Al Southampton,. ia the 350 year of ‘rot c,01 7 0 , 7 James 13ronli? RI e, ~f the lion. E'i st 1‘)- ' 1f; e al lien f pd regiment of native Int-LILA ry• ------" 9, ..r.....—,..........—.....---..............N.-., he', LONDON: Printrd I)} J. L:IRsTAII‘m, ' r od 1 .0 0 ;, ,, Orwond-strett, Q,, : ., ~,,tare• and 10•!:,, at 0 SCRIPPS, 44 . •;":.:•.--.' ' l R 4, 0 1 LL o rtif" :...both :, 0 ' Jo' • ()thee N , ""• 11'2, Strand ; ,vhere Ad1"1.04, i- , LIVES, N.Q. cpost-palti) ~....$ l . bi a Ite,q,ifuent of Foot: / / i ' i i '~ ~~ I ttla • Int P rii 1 141 \ ~ti €ll 11 /110 r/. 4t 1.2 (11 ohi ~U ~~~ y~ic tiL